Posted Oct. 10, 2018, 4:14 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Ael Khev (Pilot, Grn Squad) (Sage Pennington)
Ael sat at the small desk in his quarters, reviewing the last set of drills he’d done with the squad. He cringed at little mistakes no one else would notice. A PaDD drew his attention, distracted him from his work. One of the few things he’d brought with him, a Romulan PaDD with one unplayed message on it. He grabbed it and stared at the now years old message. Wanting it to be over with, he hit play.
His sister, Jaieh, filled the screen. She was dressed in a hospital gown. “Ael! Jolan’tru ch’Rihan-el. Arhem ssraei i ulaere i faelirh-ravsem, Ael.” (Ael! Hello from Romulus. I want to introduce you to your nephew, Ael.) She held a baby up to the camera. A little boy, sleeping, swaddled in blue blankets.
“Rii partrai na hædl.” (She had the baby.) He whispered.
“Mnean oiuu’n rhai aeu dii hna i partrai na nveiss fvadni nim na selaenen nnea na shikaen. U’hwi eisae, his aeohhlho dinam-ri’nanai.” (We agreed that he needs to have the same name as the pilot of the family. And, one day, his favourite uncle.) The baby started to wake up. As he opened his eyes, Jaieh said “Dii hhaetn ecimae aigrev nim hwi.” (He looks so much like you.)
“Dii partrai hwi caernu.” (He has your eyes.) Ael replied to the past.
“Mayri ei’krih kha. Paeti dii hrrau rhadam. Arhem partrai urri stev. Jolan’tru.” (Come home soon. Meet him in person. I have to go now. Goodbye.) The PaDD went blank. “Jolan’tru.”
Ael sat in silence. For all these years he had never known. Little baby Ael. He carefully placed the PaDD back where it had been. His head hit the palms of his hands and he wept like he hadn’t since he was a child.
-Ael Khev
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